RealTrending

This week on RealTrending, Tracey Velt chats with Dermot Buffini, CEO of Buffini & Company. Tracey and Dermot got the opportunity to sit down in person to record an episode at HousingWire’s The Gathering. Dermot breaks down the challenges in today’s real estate leadership  — from agent productivity to market shifts — and shares how to stay focused on what really matters. He also talks about “above the line” thinking to help leaders prioritize outcomes over distractions, and offers strategies for embracing technology and staying rooted in core values and customer service. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: * Starting a business is easy, but making it work is hard. * Agent productivity is crucial for business success. * Good markets do not create good habits; preparation is key. * Embrace technology and AI as tools for growth. * Distractions can derail focus; stay mission-driven. * The harvest comes for those who endure the cold seasons. Related to this episode:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahreynolds1/] * Dermot Buffini | Speakers Bureau [https://win.buffini.com/speakers/dermot-buffini/] * Dermot Buffini | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/curiousceo/] * The Gathering 2026 [https://events.housingwire.com/the-gathering-2026] * ⁠HousingWire | YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXDD_3y3LvU60vac7eki-6Q] * ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠More info about HousingWire⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://lnk.bio/housingwire] The RealTrending podcast features conversations with the brightest minds in real estate. Every Monday, brokerage leaders, top agents, team leaders, and industry experts join us to share their secrets to success, trends, and the lessons they’ve learned. Hosted by Tracey Velt and produced by the HousingWire Content Studio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

This week on RealTrending, Tracey Velt chats with Hoby Hanna, CEO of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services and Hanna Holdings. Hoby discusses the company’s culture-first M&A strategy, innovative consumer programs like the buy-borrow bundle, and how AI and data are shaping real estate. He also shares why collaboration matters and outlines his goal to reach 20% share in 20 major markets. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: * Howard Hanna targets culturally aligned acquisitions to drive strategic growth and market expansion. * The company prioritizes profitability and strong cash flow over rapid, unsustainable growth. * Real estate agents remain central to every transaction, reinforcing the firm's agent-first philosophy. * Howard Hanna is a full-service housing ecosystem, offering mortgage, title, and insurance services. * Organizing data for AI integration is a core focus to enhance efficiency and decision-making. * Innovation, including consumer programs like the buy borrow bundle and money-back guarantee, sets the company apart. Related to this episode:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahreynolds1/] * Howard Hanna disavows NAR’s Clear Cooperation Policy | HousingWire [https://www.housingwire.com/articles/howard-hanna-disavows-nars-clear-cooperation-policy/] * Howard Hanna Executive Team [https://www.howardhanna.com/About/ExecutiveTeam] * Howard W. "Hoby" Hanna, IV | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/howard-w-hoby-hanna-iv-6b26459/] * Howard Hanna [https://www.howardhanna.com/] * HousingWire | YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXDD_3y3LvU60vac7eki-6Q] * ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠More info about HousingWire⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://lnk.bio/housingwire] The RealTrending podcast features conversations with the brightest minds in real estate. Every Monday, brokerage leaders, top agents, team leaders, and industry experts join us to share their secrets to success, trends, and the lessons they’ve learned. Hosted by Tracey Velt and produced by the HousingWire Content Studio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

This week on RealTrending, Tracey Velt chats with Tami Pardee, founder of Pardee Properties in Venice, California. Tami shares how she brought a production-style model from the entertainment industry into real estate and built a high-touch, high-performing boutique brokerage. She also talks about how she tripled sales during the wildfires, uses the tools from an AI collective to empower her agents, and helps homeless women through her Life Change Warriors program. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: * Tami transformed her entertainment production experience into a real estate model. * She created a task force to help clients during the wildfires. * AI is a crucial tool for staying competitive in real estate. * Life Change Warriors empowers homeless individuals through support and education. * Building a strong company culture enhances agent performance. Related to this episode:⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahreynolds1/] * Pardee Properties [https://pardeeproperties.com/] * Tami Pardee [https://pardeeproperties.com/team/tami-pardee/] * Tami Pardee, MBA - Pardee Properties | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamipardee/] * Life Change Warriors [https://www.lifechangewarriors.org/] * ⁠HousingWire | YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXDD_3y3LvU60vac7eki-6Q] * ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠More info about HousingWire⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://lnk.bio/housingwire] The RealTrending podcast features conversations with the brightest minds in real estate. Every Monday, brokerage leaders, top agents, team leaders, and industry experts join us to share their secrets to success, trends, and the lessons they’ve learned. Hosted by Tracey Velt and produced by the HousingWire Content Studio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

This week on RealTrending, Tracey Velt chats with Alex Derenne and Alexis Hirsig, the masterminds behind The Powerhouse Partners, a group with The Real Brokerage that blends coaching and marketing in a real estate network that collaborates, rather than competes. Alex and Alexis dive into how building authentic personal brands on social media has helped them connect with clients, and how AI tools, from content creation to scheduling, are boosting their productivity. With a mission to grow a supportive community of agents nationwide, Alex and Alexis also share their vision to expand Powerhouse Partners to all 50 states. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: * Collaboration, rather than competition, can create more growth in real estate. * Authentic branding attracts aligned, loyal clients. * Social media and marketing knowledge is a must-have tool for modern agents. * When used right, AI greatly boosts efficiency and sparks creative content ideas. * Know your ideal client avatar to properly tailor your marketing strategies. * The industry is always shifting toward consumer-first strategies. Related to this episode:⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahreynolds1/] * ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXDD_3y3LvU60vac7eki-6Q]The Powerhouse Partners | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thepowerhousepartners/] * Alex Derenne Realtor [https://alexderenne.com/join-me/] * Alexis Hirsig | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/milwaukeerealtoralexis/?hl=en] * HousingWire | YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXDD_3y3LvU60vac7eki-6Q] * ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠More info about HousingWire⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://lnk.bio/housingwire] The RealTrending podcast features conversations with the brightest minds in real estate. Every Monday, brokerage leaders, top agents, team leaders, and industry experts join us to share their secrets to success, trends, and the lessons they’ve learned. Hosted by Tracey Velt and produced by the HousingWire Content Studio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

This week on RealTrending, Tracey Velt sits down to chat with Sarah Reynolds, the CEO of EmpowerHome with Keller Williams.  Sarah talks about the power of mindset amid market uncertainty, how to keep real estate fun, and why focusing on what’s controllable is key to agent success, no matter what market conditions are. She also talks about trends and new brokerage models coming onto the market and how they are  — or aren’t — changing how Empower is doing business. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: * Focus on what you can control, not market conditions. * Making real estate fun again boosts individual and team morale. * Hiring with a growth mindset is key to innovation. * We’ll start to see new, emerging agents in response to market changes. * Client needs should always be the true north when driving industry policy changes. * Empower Home aims to serve 100 families a month. Related to this episode: * ⁠Sarah Reynolds | EmpowerHome⁠ [https://empowerhome-team.com/agents/sarah-reynolds-oji/] * ⁠EmpowerHome Team⁠ [https://empowerhome-team.com/] * ⁠Sarah Reynolds | LinkedIn⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahreynolds1/] * ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HousingWire | YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXDD_3y3LvU60vac7eki-6Q] * ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠More info about HousingWire⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://lnk.bio/housingwire] The RealTrending podcast features conversations with the brightest minds in real estate. Every Monday, brokerage leaders, top agents, team leaders, and industry experts join us to share their secrets to success, trends, and the lessons they’ve learned. Hosted by Tracey Velt and produced by the HousingWire Content Studio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]